Thermostatic valve.



1. L. Fms.'

THERMOSTATIC VALVE. APPLIC A T ION FILED JUNE 8, 1914.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

f l l I1 K- S w w 0 0 1 1 3 3 3%. F v B J v 3 .a B\\ or 5 fl 1 w 4 MM 7 41 3 9 a w w w 1 1 F B. 9 7 6 B m 2 2 -INVENTOR 18 10 WITNESSES W20 ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT orr' cn.

JAMES LOGAN FITTS, F MERCHANTVILLE, NEW .TERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 WARREN WEBSTER & COMPANY, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION-OF NEW JERSEY.

THERMOSTATIC VALVE.

Patented Aug. '7, 1917".

Application filed June a, 1914. Serial no. 843,869.

, provement in Thermostatic Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to thermostatic valves and more particularly to that type in which the valve-piece is controlled by an expansion cell, and consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the Y accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to providea construction wherein the expansion. cell is assembled or'built up from a plurality of diaphragms each designed to give increased strength at points where there is a tendency to break and without decreasing or impairing the elasticity of the cell or lessening its efficiency as a sensitive medium responding to variations of temperature.

It has for a further object to provide an expansion cell formed of a number of diaphragms so arranged and coordinated that the meeting edges of adjacent diaphragms are securely united one to the other in such a manner as to permit free expansion of the parts without danger of leakage at thejoint or joints. g It further comprehends details of construction which, together with the features above specified, will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a thermostatic valve embodying my invention; Fig. 2 represents an enlarged section of a portion of one of the diaphragms of a portion of the expansion cell; Fig. 3 represents a plan of the part shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 represents an enlarged section of the joint between the diaphragm members of the expansion cell; Fig. 5 represents a vertical section of a portion of a cell of modified form; Fig. 6 represents a similar section showing a still further modification.

1 designates thebody'of the valve having the inlet 2 and outlet 3, while 4 designates the cap or closure adapted to be screw threaded into the open top of the body 1 in order to form the valve chamber 5. 6 designates a threaded boss preferably formed integral With the cap 4 and adapted to receive a tubular thimble 7 to which one side of the expansion cell is connected. The screw threaded connection between the boss 6 and thethimble '7 is a convenient means of determining and limiting the adjustment of these parts and consequently the adjustment of the expansion cell. The thimble is provided with a passageway 8 opening into the interior of the expansion cell and which may be closed by a small plug 9 or like means, the said passageway forming the means for supplying or filling the expansion cell with'the expansible fluid or substance f desired to be used. 10 designates the valve piece which is secured tothe opposite side of the expansion cell, in substantial alinement with the thimble 7 and terminates in a conical member 11 adapted to seat upon the valve seat 12 to control the flow of fluid through the outlet 3.

13 designates the expanslon cell which is v preferably of annular construction and as already explained is connected at opposite sides to the aforesaid thimble member"? and the valve piece 10. This cell, in the present instance, is composed of a plurality of diaphragms 14, 15, 16 and 17, arranged in superposed relation and constructed as follows:

The diaphragm 14 has its inner circumferential edge 18 seated within a suitable groove formed in the thimble member 7, where it is securely held and sealed by solder as shownat 19. The outer end of the diaphragm 14, in thepreferred embodiment, is bent outward to form a circumferential flange 20, the outer end of which is 'reversely turned as shown at 21 to form a circumferential groove adapted to'receive a similar bent portion 22 and 23 of the diaphragm 15. When these latter bent portions of the diaphragm. 15 are seated within the groove formed by the part 21 the end of thediaphragm 14 is again reversely be'nt as shown at 24 in such a manner that it interfits with the hook shaped flange formed by the members 22 and 23. When the two diaphragm members have thus been assembled and pressed into contact relation, along their 'circumferential flanged poI tioYIS, solder is introduced on. each side of the end 24, as

shown at 25 to unite the ends of the two diaphragms and to also seal the joint be" tween them. A similar construction of j ointing the diaphragms 16 and 17 is employed for the outer circumferential portions, and

. disposed circumferential flanges 28 which straddle the circular flange 26 of the respective diaphragms and thus effectually seals the joint between the two parts. The aforesaid ring and diaphragm are united by solder as shown at 29. It will further be noted that each of the diaphragms is suitably pressed to form a circumferential rib to allow for properexpansion and contraction, andvfurther, that these ribs are arranged in juxtaposed relation as will be clearly apparent from Fig. 2. In addition, the diaphragms 15 and 16 are each pressed to form a second rib 31,.also arranged juxtaposed with respect to each other and forming an inner circumferential rib located between the thimble 7 and the valve piece 10 and in close proximity to the ring member 27. 32 designates a number of radial ribs or corrugations which may be formed in each diaphragm, if desired, to add to the flexibility and extensibility of the expansion cell by providing for circumferential or annular expansion, and at the same time these radial ribs or corrugations assist in concentrating the flexibility to the outer annular portion of the diaphragms or disks. The tapering form of the radial ribs 14:, 15, 16 and 17 also provides for. the varying amount of expansion as the upper portion of the diaphragm or disk is approached. It will also be seen that, as each disk as diaphragm is provided with a rib stamped concentric with respect to the outer edge, elongation in circumference may readilytake place under expansion, and that the radial corrugations or ribs will permit flexure across the diameter required thereby.

4 In Fig. 2, which is the preferred construction, the sides of the diaphragins' 14 and 17 converge toward the center of the expansion cell and normally seat upon the grooved portion of the diaphragms 15 and 16, while the sides of the diaphragms 15 and 16 converge toward the outer circumference of the cell so that in inoperative position of the parts the walls of the ribs 30 rest one upon the other.

In Fig. .5 I have shown a modified construction wherein the sides of all the diaphragms are substantially parallel in normal position, but otherwise the joining of the parts is substantially the same.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a construction wherein the flanged portions of each pair of diaphragms are interengaged as shown at 33 and the joint soldered as shown at 34;, said joint being substantially the same as that previously described.

novel manner of forming the outer circumfer'ential seat of the expansion cell, since the construction is such that each disk or diaphragm has complete flexibility throughout its diameter while the meeting edges of adjacent disks are jointed in a leak proof manner with considerable strength transversely to the plane of the disks or diaphragms. In addition it will be noted thatwhen solder is employed to unite and seal the seam between the disks this binding element, while forming a circumferential sealing means, extends only a comparatively short distance between the contacting portions of the edges, and wholly outside of the contacting surfaces of the disks or diaphragms within the overlapped joint, thereby allowing freedom of play or movement along the contacting parts of the seam up to the soldered joint to permit proper expanding and contracting of the cell.

The cellmember is very strong, while at the same time very sensitive, the cylindrical peripheral walls hold the cell against dis tortion, but not being soldered together they are very fiexiblein respect to the expansibility of the related disk members of the cell. This is enhanced by employing the double or multiple seam soldered only between its outer members and not between the operative surfaces of the adjacent disks or diaphragms.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable, and while I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the details, as the same are susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. In a thermostatic valve, a casing having an inlet and an outlet and connecting thoroughfare, and a valve piece to control the thoroughfare, in combination with an expansion cell to control said valve piece, comprising a plurality of disks or diaphragms having their outer edges doubly flanged and reversely bent to form interfitting members of great length in at least five ply assembled condition, and a sealing and jointing medium connecting portions of the ends of adjacent flanges constituting the three inner plies, said seam forming a cylindrical flanged structure extending transinganinlet and an outlet and connecting the thoroughfare, and avalve pieceto control thoroughfare,in Combination with an expansion cell comprising"a'plurality of annular disks, one of said disks being fixed to said, casingand the outer edges of adjacent I I prising a plurallty of annular disks of flexlpairsof disks being flanged'into cylindrical form and revers'ely bent to form interfitting circumferential cylindrical members of great lengthin assembled condition and at right angles to the plane of the disks, and a sealing and jointing medium connecting the ends of adjacent flanges 4 3. In a thermostatic-valve, a casing having an inlet and an outlet and a connectin thoroughfare, and a valve piece to controfl "the thoroughfare, in combination with an expansion cell to control said valve piece,v

comprising a plurality of diaphragms having their outer edges flanged into cylindrical form and reversely bent to forminterfitting members of great length in assembled multiply condition and at substantially right angles to the plane of the diaphragms, a sealing and ointing medium connecting the ends of adjacent flanges, and each of said diaphragms shaped with a circular stamped rib formed therein.

4:. In a thermostatic valve, a casing having an inlet and an outlet and a connecting thoroughfare, and a valve piece to control the thoroughfare, in combination with an expansion cell to control said valve piece, comprising a plurality of diaphragms having their surfaces near to the circumference brought close together and their outer edges flanged into cylindrical shape at right angles to the plane of the diaphragms and reversely bentto form interfitting members in assembled multiply condition, a sealing and jointing medium connecting the ends of adjacent flanges, and each of said diaphragms shaped with a circular stamped rib formed therein, and a plurality of radial corrugations stamped into the diaphragms extending from the circular stamped ribs thereof and terminating at a short distance from the central part. l

5. In a thermostatic valve, a casing having an inlet and an outlet and a thoroughfare connecting them, and a valve piece to control the thoroughfare, in combination with an expansion cell to control piece comprising a plurality of diaphragms arranged in superposed relation, one of the outer diaphragms being fixedly secured to the casing and the other outer diaphragm secured to the valve piece and the intermediate pair of annular diaphragms connected together at their inner edges and having their outer edges connected respectively to the outer edges of the first mentioned dia-.

disk of each adjacent pair united together said valve phragms by being flanged and reversely bent to form interfittln'g cylindrical members in close assembled multiply condition, and a solderedjoint connecting vthe ends of adjacent flanges of a portion only of said plies, said joints forming cylindrical flanges at, substantially right, angles to the plane of a the diaphragms. v.

'6. Athermostatic bellows member comble sheet metal, coupled in'pairsat their peripheral portions-by a joint comprising overlapped and interfitting members providing a cylindrical flange boundary at substantially right angles to the plane of the disks and the adjacent inner edges of one disk of each adjacent pair united together by a liquid tight joint, and separate central portions secured to and sealing the two outer disks of the plurality of disks.

7. A thermostatic bellows member com prising a plurality of annular disks of flexile sheet metal, coupled in pairs at their peripheral portions by a joint comprising overlapped and interfitting members providing a cylindrical flange boundary at ,substantially right angles to the plane of the disks and the adjacent inner edges of one by a liquid tight joint and in which said plurality of disks are each formed with stamped portions providin annular ribs extending outwardly and a jacent to the peripheral members and providing annular flat portions of adjacent palrs of diaphragms in 00 contact, and the sheet metal portions between the annular ribbed portions and the central parts of the disks arranged on an incline so that the chamber between any pair of disks tapers from the middle part outwardly, and separate central portions se-' cured to and sealin the two outer disks of the plurality of dis s.

8. A thermostatic bellows membercomprising a plurality of annular disks of flexible sheet metal, coupled 'in pairs at their peripheral portions by a joint comprising overlapped and interfitting members pro viding a cylindrical flange boundary arranged at substantially right angles to the plane of the disks andthe adjacent inner edges of one disk of each adjacent pair united together by a liquid tight joint and in which said plurality of disks are each formed with. stamped portions, providing annular ribs extending outwardly and adjacent to the peripheral members, and the sheet metal portions between the annular ribbed portions and the central parts of the disks arranged on an inclineso that the 25 chamber between any pair of disks tapers from the -middle part outwardly, and in which further, the said inclined ortions are provided with a plurality of ra ial stamped ribbed portions of decreasing cross section 13 nating adjacent to the central portion of nearer together adjacent the central portion the dlsks, and separate central portions secured to and sealing the two outer disks of the plurality of disks.

9. A thermostatic member consisting of two annular disks of sheet metal havingtheir body portions stamped so as to provide annular ribs adjacent their erimeters and also oppositely inclined sur ace walls extending from sa1d ribs, said walls being of the disk than at the ribbed portion thereof, and the beyond the rlbbed portion united by means of overlapped members providing a multiply joint.

10. A thermostatic member consisting of two annular disks of sheet metal having their body portions stamped so as to provide peripheral edges of said disksmamas annular ribs adjacent their perimeters andalso oppositely inclined surface walls extending from said ribs, said walls being nearer together adjacent the central portion of the diskthan at the ribbed portion thereof, and the peripheral edgesof said disks beyond the ribbed portion united by means of overlapped members providing'a multiply joint comprising three parallel parts upon one disk and two parallel parts on the other disk, said parts interengaging and soldered together and forming a cylindrical flange at substantially right angles to the plane of the disks.

In testimony of which invention I here-' unto set my hand.

JAMES LOGAN FITTS. Witnesses:

PHILIP Y. QUINN,

F. Josnrn MILLER. 

